Black belt former martial arts instructor takes on police officer in viral video

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER Published: 03:38, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 03:50, 8 July 2026 A former black belt martial arts instructor sparred with a police officer in a wild video captured on Fourth of July weekend. The stunning footage captured the moment Timothy Allen Wegert, 33, attempted to clock a police officer with a spinning kick in Virginia Beach on July 5 around 2.20am. However, the officer managed to just about duck under the kick and tackle Wegert, who appeared to be shirtless and wearing black-and-white striped pants. Soon, three other officers ran over to help take Wegert into custody, repeatedly telling him to put his hands behind his back. Bill Peters, a family friend, identified Wegert as the former chief executive officer and master instructor of the UpLevel Martial Arts academy in Charlottesville. 'I know him very, very well,' Peters told the Virginian-Pilot. 'It's a shame.' An old LinkedIn profile said Wegert was a three-time world champion martial artist, which Peters confirmed. The video of Wegert's attempted kick on the police officer, posted by Shore Drive Shuffle, had been viewed more than 167,000 times as of Tuesday night. A video posted by Shore Drive Shuffle showed the moment Timothy Allen Wegert, 33, tried a spinning kick on a Virginia Beach police officer on July 5 past 2am Wegert, seen being arrested by police officers, is a former three-time world champion martial artist who once ran the UpLevel Martial Arts academy in Charlottesville Wegert was reportedly fired as CEO in 2021 due to his conduct outside of the company, which allegedly included multiple assaults Wegert has been charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer. He also faces misdemeanor charges of of simple assault and disorderly conduct, as well as two counts of obstruction of justice. Peters added that Wegert had a 'nice family' but did not share more details about his relationship to them. He claimed Wegert had been fired from his CEO job in 2021 because of his conduct outside of the company, which Peters alleged included several assaults. Virginia judiciary records showed that Wegert had been found guilty of a felony bomb threat in November 2023 and sentenced to 10 years in prison, but with eight years and six months suspended. Wegert was also found guilty of misdemeanor stalking around the same time, according to Fluvanna Circuit Court records viewed by the Daily Mail. He was released from supervised probation on April 23 of this year, records showed. Wegert had most recently been working as a dance instructor, according to his public social media presence Wegert was also captured on video dancing at Mahi's, a beachfront eatery in Virginia Beach, around 9.15pm on the night he was taken into custody Peters added that Wegert had recently been working as a dance instructor. Wegert's public social media activity on Instagram and Facebook showed him in several dancing videos and touting his skills. 'If you want to take your dance to the next level, I'd love to assist,' he wrote in one. In a separate video, Wegert and a female student danced at a crosswalk as cars waited for the stoplight to change colors. One of Wegert's last social media posts before his arrest was made on June 30. He tagged Virginia Beach as the location. Wegert was captured around 9.15pm on the night of his arrest a few blocks down Atlantic Avenue from where he was arrested. Video footage, which was recorded by 42-year-old Casey Bunce, showed Wegert at Mahi's, a beachfront eatery in the area. Bunce said that Wegert, who he had already seen at the beach one day prior, appeared to be 'just dancing and having a good time.' View this post on Instagram Wegert has been charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer after the viral confrontation over Fourth of July weekend 'He's definitely an outgoing character but seems very nice,' Bunce told the Virginian-Pilot. Wegert interacted with Bunce just hours before he was eventually taken into custody. 'After I recorded the video I gave him a high five,' Bunce recalled. 'He said, "Thank you brother," so he wasn't aggressive at all.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the Virginia Beach Police Department and Sheriff's Office for comment. It was not immediately clear if Wegert had obtained legal representation.